Safety device for electric irons



Feb. 16 1926.

R. E. CAMPBELL SAFETY DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC IRONS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledDec. 16, 1920 Feb. 16 1926.

R. E. CAMPBELL SAFETY DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC IRONS Filed De c. 16, 1920 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 16, 1926.

UNITED STATES RONALD ELISON CAKPIBELL, OE COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC IRONS.

Application filed December 16, 1820. Serial No. 431,079.

To all whom, it may concern:

lie it known that I, RONALD E. CAMPBELL, a citizen of the United States,and residing atColumbia, Richland County, .State of South Carolina, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Devices forElectric Irons, of which the following is a specification. I

The object of this invention is to provide a novel and convenientcircuit breaking device for electrically-heated irons by means of whichexcessive heating and fires result ing therefrom is prevented, as wellas injury to the iron itself. The safety cut-out device is adapted to beattached to irons already constructed and in use as well as to ironshereafter to be manufactured, and it comprises a spring device adaptedto be positioned on the iron adjacent its separable electricalconnection to the electric supply mains, and is arranged to break theseparable connection when the temperature of the iron has become suchthat a fusible link which comprises an element thereof and is locatedadjacent the heating surface of the iron melts, thereby releasing thespring and permitting it to separate the members of the electricalconnection.

The device is simple in character, inexpensive to manufacture, easy toinstall in position on an electric iron and does not in any mannerinterfere with the ordinary manipulation of the iron. Two modificationsof the invention will be fullydisclosed in the following descriptiontaken in connegtion with the drawings in which:

igure 1 is a side elevation of an electric iron having a plug and socketconnection with a source-of electric power showing one form of thecircuit breakmg device attached thereto, the members of the separableconnection beingscparated;

Figure 2 is a top view of the same but showing the plug inserted in thesocket;

Figure 3 is a similar view but showing the position of thecircuitbreaking device after it has forced the plug from the socket;

Figure 4 is a rear view of the iron and attachment, the plug beingomitted;

Figure 5 is a side view of a portion of an iron having a slightlymodified form of separable connection with the mains and showing adifferent form of circuit breaker; Figure 6 is a rear viewof the same.

The invention may be made in anumber of different forms for attachmentto different irons and it will be understood that the two modificationsherein described are by way of example only. In the iron illustrated inFigures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the electrical heat mg element encased therein isconnected by means of wires contained within the insulating conduit 10,with a suitable source of electrical power through a plug and socketconnection of the ordinary frictional type,

the plug member 11 of which is connected to the conduit 10 and thesocket member 12 of which is connected to the heating element of theiron by wires which extend downwardly through the post or pedestal 13.The structure so far disclosed is old and well known.

The circuit breaking attachment comprises a coiled spring 14: normallyheld in compression, as shown in Figure 1, between a collar or movableabutment 15 and the pedestal 1 3 of the iron, by means of arms 16pivoted to the collar 15 and having lateral portions 17 at their endswhich extend around the pedestal, as shown clearly in Figure 2, beingheld in this position by a locking member 18. This locking membereomprises two parts pivotally connected together at their upper ends asat 19, and connected together at their lower ends by a fusible link 20located adjacent that portion of the outer surface of the iron which isnearest the heating element. of the portions 17 of the pivoted arms areinclined, and the pressure of the spring exerted, when released, againstthe collar 15 and tending to-move this collar away from the pedestal,causes these inclined edges 21 to act as cam surfaces throwing the arms16 outwardly to the positions illustrated in Figure 3. This happenswhenever the fusible link 12 is melted so that the two portions of thelocking member may separate to assume the position indicated in dottedlines in Figure 4. The collar 15 is provided with lugs 22 which extendinwardly and are adapted to abut against an annular shoulder 23 of theplug and force the plug outwardly whenever the-spring is released.

In the ordinary use of the iron the attach- The edges 21 ment occupiesthe position illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 and in such position theplug 21 maybe readily inserted or withdrawn as desired without disturbmgthe .automatlc circuit breaking device. Whenever the iron isneglected,with the current turned" on, and its temperature rises to an excesslvedegree,

the fusible link 20 will be melted, the arms 16 will be released by thelocking member 18 and the spring will instantly act to force the plugfrom the socket. The device may be caused to operate at any desiredtemperature'by varying the composition of the fus- When the link meltsbecause of excessive heating collar 15 and members 18 are free to moveupwardly under the influence of the spring to lift the plug from thesocket and thereby break the connection.

It will be obvious that the invention may be adapted to suit other typesof electrical heating irons which are-not provided with safety devicesto prevent overheating, and

the invention is not limited in its scope to the exact forms describedand illustrated,

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A circuit breaking attachment for electrically heated irons havingseparable electric connectors, comprising a coil spring insertablebetween the iron and the movable member of the separable connection, andmeans for normally holding said spring against expansion includingaspring looking device circumferentially surrouding said spring andtemperature controlled means for releasingsa'id locking device when theiron becomes overheated so that the connector is bodily separatedfrom-the iron by the actionof the spring.

2. A circuit breaking attachment'for, elec trically heated irons havingseparable electric connectors, comprising a coil spring insertablebetween the iron and the movable member of the separable connectionreleasable restraining means holding the spring in a compressed stateincluding an abutment member at one endof the spring, swinging armssecured thereto and having portions extending beyond the other end ofthe spring and turned toward each other, and temperaturecontrolled meansfor releasing said spring restraining means when the iron becomesoverheated.

3. A circuit breaking attachment for electrically heated irons havingseparable electric connectors, comprising a coil spring insertablebetween the iron and the movable member of the separable connection, andmeans extendingaround the spring in two directions and holding the samecompressed, which means automatically releases the spring when the ironbecomes overheated.

4. A circuit breaker for an electrically heated iron having a separableelectric connection adjacent the iron and a device for automaticallyparting said connection when the iron becomes overheated said devicecomprising a movable abutment member a coil spring positioned betweensaid movable abutment and the iron, arms pivoted to said movableabutment and provided with portions adapt. to engage the iron, and aloop member supeu'i'iding the spring and said arms and normally holdingsaid arms in looking engagement with the iron and to thereby maintainsaid spring in compression,

said loop member having a fusible element.

and holding the same compressed and means surrounding said first meansand including a fusible element whichrmelts when the iron becomesoverheated and automatically releases the spring. r v

6. A'circuit breaking attachment for elec= trically heated irons havingseparable electric connectors, comprising a coil spring in sertablebetween the iron and the movable .member of the separable connection,parallel arms extending around the spring and holding the samecompressed the said arms having corresponding ends hinged to a springabutment and their other ends connected together by a fusible link. I

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

RONALD ELISON CAMPBELL.

